Improvement in umbrella-runners



UNITED STATES PATENT DEEIGE.

HENRY S. FROST, OF WATERTOWN, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN UMBRELLA-RUNNERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 180,710, dated August 8, 1876; application led January 14, 1876.

bination, withthe ruimer, of a sliding Wedgepiece and an interior spring-plate, the construction being such that the runner may be secured to the stick' in any desired position by simply forcing the wedge-piece between the cylinder of the runner and the interior plate, in consequence ot' which the latter is securely clamped to the stick, and the runne ,held by the friction ofthe parts.

In the drawings, Figure l represents a side elevation of my improved runner; Figs. 2 and 3, sectional elevation; Fig. 4, a perspective view of the same; Figs. 5 and 7, modified forms; and Fig. 6, view of interior cylinder detached.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my improved runner, I will now proceed to fully describe the saine.

A represents the runner proper, which may be generally constructed in any proper inan-` ner. It is essentially provided, however, with an opening, a, as shown. K

B represents an interior spring-plate, consisting, preferably, of a split cylinder rigidly secured at one side to the inner surface of the runner.

C represents an intermediate wedge-piece, the main portion of which lies in the slot a ot' the runner, and projects through the saine, its ends being held by the bands at the ends ofthe runner, as shown. c represents a curved and serrated portion, by means of which it is adapted to be easily moved by the thumb. The lower face of this wedgepiece rests upon the free end of the interior spring-plate, as shown.

The operation of the runner is as follows: When the wedge-piece C occupies a central position in the slot a the runner may be freely moved in either direction upon the stick. When, however, the wedge-piece is so moved as to crowd'the spring-plate against the stick, the runner is necessarily held against moveinentby the friction of the parts.

It will be understood that, in consequence of the rigidityot' the bands of the runner, they cannot be moved by the action of the wedge, and hence the spring-plate inust yield when pressure is exerted, and, consequent-ly, press against and clamp the stick.

If desired, the construction may be so modified as to locate the slot and wedge-piece around the circumference of the runner, iiistead ot' in a longitudinal direction, as shown in Fig. 7. It' desired, the Wedge-piece may. be constructed to act only at one end instead of both, as shown in Fig. 5.

The advantages of the described construction will be readily understood. No springs are required in the stickand the runner, by a simple movement of the wedge-piece may be clamped inl any desired position.' The einployment of an interior plate prevents the stick from being marred by the clamping action. It' desired, the wedge-piece may be einployed without the interior spring-plate; but this construction is objectionable because the stick is then liable to be marred.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. 1n combination with the runner, the sliding Wedge-piece, and interior spring-plate, substantially as described.

2. The ruimer described, having the loiigitndinal slot a, interior cylindrical spring-plate B, and sliding wedge-piece C, as described..

3. A ruimer provided with mechanism for clamping the stick, and also an interior plate for protecting its surface, substantially as described. i

4. The sliding wedge-piece C, in combination with a slotted ruimer, as described.

This specification signed and witnessed this 7th day of January, 1876. V

HENRY S. FROST.

Witnesses:

T. P. BALDWIN, LEMAN W. GUTTER. 

